First to the Semifinals

Rangers and Canucks Prevail

New York 5 – Carolina 3 en (Quarter Finals Rangers 4-2) Host Carolina twice built a two goal lead during the second period and as the teams headed into the third period 3-1 the Hurricanes and their fans could not be faulted for feeling pretty good.

But before the party began in Raleigh the Rangers took 10 SOG during the third period and scored four times with the final tally into the empty net as the Broadway Blueshirts become the first team to advance to the Semifinals.

Vancouver 3 – Edmonton 2 (Quarter Finals Canucks 3-2) Oilers goaltender Pickard played a very solid .914 SV% while stopping all of the Canucks seven power play shots and two shorthanded shots and allowed three goals on 26 even strength shots.

The Canucks played physical, outshot, and won most of the faceoffs in a game where both teams’ penalty killers were 100% effective and it was Mr. Miller’s shocking bat/deflection shot that scored with less than a minute remaining in the game that gave Vancouver the win.